Posted
by
samzenpus
on Tuesday February 19, 2008 @09:52AM
from the end-of-an-era dept.

Smordnys s'regrepsA writes "Fidel Castro, the leader of the island nation of Cuba has declined the possibility of keeping his seat as President, after the February 24th National Assembly election. "I neither will aspire to nor will I accept — I repeat — I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," Castro wrote almost 19 months after a severe illness caused him to hand power temporarily to his brother Raul."

Free the political prisoners. Free the press. Allow criticism of the state. Allow the existance of other political parties. Hold free elections. Until these acts happen, Cuba is just another repressive government we don't want to read about on slashdot.

It means the return if the Cuban Bride business. We no longer have to suffer with the long shipping delays of the Russian bride business and now can get women to marry us sight un-seen in a few hours instead of a few months.

Nerds everywhere are that much closer to being possibly able to touch a boobie.

"The US should stay the hell away from the internal affairs of other sovereign countries."

How is this possibly marked "insightful"?

The US can, should, and (more often than most other countries) does take useful measures to improve the human condition - humanitarian projects, encouraging democratic political reform, standing up for human rights. France, Germany, China, etc. - they should all do the same. Or are you buying into China's point of view, eg. that cheap oil from the Sudan is more important than preventing genocide?

I spent 3 weeks cycling around Cuba in 2004 (I'm a Canadian). I went well off the beaten track, staying with families and camping. I saw many things that most visitors to Cuba never see.

In my opinion, the focus on the welfare of the people is a red herring. People are provided for. They have food, shelter, health care, and education. No one is desperate. Resources are scarce, no thanks to the embargo, but people make do. Nobody prostitutes themselves because they have to.

The real issue is the friction that an influx of foreign money creates between Cubans. Anyone who has contact with tourists (taxi drivers, waitresses, etc.) is rich. A $2 tip when the average wage is $15 a month is huge. Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, and software engineers by contrast are poor. This breeds a lot of suspicion, envy and distrust. Tourists are alternately welcomed with open arms or despised.